Saturday, 23 June 2007
Thursday, 14 June 2007
I've calmed down now, honest.
I'm still very happy about my offer, obviously, but have calmed down on reflection of the fact that the course is still under internal review and by no means certain to run, and my application is still required to undergo a final review. I'm not being negative, but I'm very consious of the fact that I shouldn't pin all my hopes on this one thing.
In the mean time: I'm still waiting to hear if I've got an interview for the parliament job, and I've decided to sell my soul to Tesco (again) for the Summer to earn a bit of cash - I don't particularly want to because the memories of just how crap it was towards the end of last Summer are still very clear in my mind, but I've got the experiance and the training already and the pay's ok. Might still try applying to Lidl because the pay's better - £7, as opposed to £6.75 at Tesco.
In the mean time: I'm still waiting to hear if I've got an interview for the parliament job, and I've decided to sell my soul to Tesco (again) for the Summer to earn a bit of cash - I don't particularly want to because the memories of just how crap it was towards the end of last Summer are still very clear in my mind, but I've got the experiance and the training already and the pay's ok. Might still try applying to Lidl because the pay's better - £7, as opposed to £6.75 at Tesco.
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
"Grab the horn of the Ox, Think outside of the box, and devise a solution instead"
(quote courtasy of "Guilds" by A. Braden and J. Davy - Fringe show wooooooo!)
Time to do just as that quote says. New Plan: work full time and do MSc part-time.
Ok, back track slightly and explain: there are a lot of 'ifs' involved in this so I'm not counting my chickens by any means. A position has come up at the Scottish Parliament as an assistant to an MSP, and I've applied on the basis that I have a year's experiance doing much the same thing part-time for a differant MSP in the same party, so have good references and experiance - this should at least put me in the position of being a reasonably strong candidate anyway. It's a good place to start working because I know quite a number of people there and I like the environment, plus it keeps me in the way of research practise. I have still to hear back about the MSc, but if I do get the offer then I think it would be best to do it part-time for several reasons: I would be earning enough to support myself, pay council tax and tuition fees. My grades haven't been good enough to qualify me for funding. It would also mean that I have access, through the Parliamentary information centre, to a vast source of information on environmental issues in Scotland and up-to-date debates. So, that's the idea, but there are a huge number of 'ifs' involved, and I'm reticent to pin any hopes at all on this, but it's a plan anyway.
Time to do just as that quote says. New Plan: work full time and do MSc part-time.
Ok, back track slightly and explain: there are a lot of 'ifs' involved in this so I'm not counting my chickens by any means. A position has come up at the Scottish Parliament as an assistant to an MSP, and I've applied on the basis that I have a year's experiance doing much the same thing part-time for a differant MSP in the same party, so have good references and experiance - this should at least put me in the position of being a reasonably strong candidate anyway. It's a good place to start working because I know quite a number of people there and I like the environment, plus it keeps me in the way of research practise. I have still to hear back about the MSc, but if I do get the offer then I think it would be best to do it part-time for several reasons: I would be earning enough to support myself, pay council tax and tuition fees. My grades haven't been good enough to qualify me for funding. It would also mean that I have access, through the Parliamentary information centre, to a vast source of information on environmental issues in Scotland and up-to-date debates. So, that's the idea, but there are a huge number of 'ifs' involved, and I'm reticent to pin any hopes at all on this, but it's a plan anyway.
Friday, 1 June 2007
Swimming up-river (the one where you don't get a paddle)
I've finished my degree. Well, actually I finished it technically on the 17th of June at the end of my exams, but now I have confirmation of my degree results; 2:2. Can't say that I'm not dissappointed because I really thought that I had got a 2:1, but it would appear that Housing and Society dragged my mark down (got 54%) - it's a course which has been subject to a lot of criticism from myself and my fellow class mates for a range of reasons (my personal gripe has been the urbancentricity of the course). Oh well. Might appeal, but my Director of Studies doesn't think that it's marginal enough to be successful.
On the plus side, I heard back from the postgraduate coordinatior. I got an offer for a place on my MSc course, on the condition that I got a 2:1 (which came as a bit of a kick in the metaphorical balls considering I had been waiting to hear back about it for ages and I got the response just after the results came out!) But I may still get it: the case is being refered to the course convenior to decide. This is a new course, so the chances are that all the places will not be taken anyway, and it would be to the advantage of the course coordinator to have a full class even if they are not all 2:1/1st students than a class that's not full up. My Director of Studies said that he would have 'an informal word' with the person responciable for the selection of students for the course. I really appreciate how much has been done for me by those I have talked to within the department - I wouldn't stand a chance without their support! However, it could still all come crashing down because the course is still subject to internal approval. This may still count in my favour in that if enough people are interested and signed up then approval may go through far more easily than if they only had a few people interested. I shall have to wait and see, but I believe that God does not close a door without opening a window. I really want this oppertunity, and if I'm accepted then I'm going to have to work so much harder than anyone else to prove myself capable, and I'm willing to do so. I recognise the sacrafices that I will have to make, but I know that they'll be worth it.
If there's one positive lesson I've taken from this, it's that we cannot take our oppertunities for granted and have to make the most of every chance we get. As Mum said, what's meant for you will not pass you by. My parents have been so supportative: they said that they were not disappointed by me, but for me, and that's been a really big help. With the support from my family and friends I've managed to remain very posative, and turned this result to my advantage: I'm now very motivated to do my best and strive for what I want.
On the plus side, I heard back from the postgraduate coordinatior. I got an offer for a place on my MSc course, on the condition that I got a 2:1 (which came as a bit of a kick in the metaphorical balls considering I had been waiting to hear back about it for ages and I got the response just after the results came out!) But I may still get it: the case is being refered to the course convenior to decide. This is a new course, so the chances are that all the places will not be taken anyway, and it would be to the advantage of the course coordinator to have a full class even if they are not all 2:1/1st students than a class that's not full up. My Director of Studies said that he would have 'an informal word' with the person responciable for the selection of students for the course. I really appreciate how much has been done for me by those I have talked to within the department - I wouldn't stand a chance without their support! However, it could still all come crashing down because the course is still subject to internal approval. This may still count in my favour in that if enough people are interested and signed up then approval may go through far more easily than if they only had a few people interested. I shall have to wait and see, but I believe that God does not close a door without opening a window. I really want this oppertunity, and if I'm accepted then I'm going to have to work so much harder than anyone else to prove myself capable, and I'm willing to do so. I recognise the sacrafices that I will have to make, but I know that they'll be worth it.
If there's one positive lesson I've taken from this, it's that we cannot take our oppertunities for granted and have to make the most of every chance we get. As Mum said, what's meant for you will not pass you by. My parents have been so supportative: they said that they were not disappointed by me, but for me, and that's been a really big help. With the support from my family and friends I've managed to remain very posative, and turned this result to my advantage: I'm now very motivated to do my best and strive for what I want.
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